$2 million grant to explore impact of hypoglycemia on brain function

Supported by a $2 million Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH), a team led by ECE professor Yun-Sheng Chen will explore how recurrent hypoglycemia impacts brain function in diabetes patients. The team will use advanced imaging technologies to investigate the brain responses tied to cognitive impairments caused by low blood sugar levels.

Diabetes affects one tenth of the population worldwide and can significantly impact quality of life. Patients are also vulnerable to recurrent hypoglycemia, a condition marked by frequent abnormally low blood sugar levels. There is mounting evidence that indicates these recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia may lead to cognitive decline or even dementia. 

Despite significant clinical evidence on the correlation between recurrent hypoglycemia and cognitive decline, the predictive brain imaging biomarkers that can potentially provide information about recurrent hypoglycemia-induced cognitive dysfunction have never been explored.

The proposed research aims to close this knowledge gap through a collaborative effort between imaging science, basic metabolism science and cognitive neuroscience. Chen's multidisciplinary team includes faculty from The Grainger College of Engineering and beyond: psychology professor Nu-Chu Liang, ECE professor Yang Zhao and ECE professor Zhi-Pei Liang. The team will also benefit from the expertise of professor Huan Huynh, a neurologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Timothy Moran, a world-renowned expert in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University, who focuses on obesity and eating disorders.

They will combine different technologies developed at Illinois, including the Photoacoustic/Fast Ultrasound Localization (PAUL) imaging technology in Chen’s lab for visualizing microvascular flow and oxygenation, wearable battery-free EEG sensors in Zhao’s lab and advanced MRI methods in Zhi-Pei Liang’s lab. 

"A multiparametric brain imaging technique is vital in understanding the severe impact of fluctuating blood sugar levels on cognitive functions,” Chen explains. "Using PAUL imaging, our goal is to identify the early imaging biomarkers responsible for these changes." 

Further, a multimodality imaging approach allows for high-resolution visualization of multiple brain activity parameters, providing a comprehensive view of the brain’s response during recurrent hypoglycemic episodes. This innovative method is designed to enhance understanding of hypoglycemia’s effects on brain function, particularly in diabetes patients who may not exhibit typical symptoms. 

Nu-Chu Liang adds, "Understanding these underlying mechanisms is crucial. We anticipate the new knowledge acquired from this research will transform the way we evaluate cognitive decline in diabetes patients. It could mitigate or even prevent the cognitive decline associated with this condition."

Beyond addressing a critical gap in diabetes research, this research also sets the stage for future interventions that could significantly enhance the well-being of those afflicted by this chronic condition and offer insights into other neurological diseases.

Yun-Sheng Chen is also affiliated with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Zhi-Pei Liang is also affiliated with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, the Coordinated Science Laboratory and the Department of Bioengineering. Yang Zhao is also affiliated with the Holonyak Micro & Nanotechnology Lab.